Rockstar cancelled GTA games set in Tokyo, Rio, and Moscow to protect billion-dollar franchise
Rockstar Games abandoned plans to expand the Grand Theft Auto series to cities like Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul, choosing instead to keep the franchise rooted in American settings for financial and branding reasons.
Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar, revealed the cancelled international projects in an interview with GamesHub. A Tokyo-based game came closest to reality through a partnership with a Japanese studio before being scrapped.
Vermeij said.
Why American cities remained the focus
Rockstar decided maintaining US locations was safer for the franchise's massive financial success. The company viewed America as the center of Western culture, making its cities recognizable and comfortable for players worldwide, regardless of whether they had visited them.
Vermeij explained.
This global familiarity gives Rockstar a competitive advantage and strengthens the franchise's connection to its American identity. With billions at stake, the company chose not to risk experimenting with the proven formula.
The Tokyo project was the most developed of the international concepts. A Japanese studio was set to use Rockstar's code to create GTA: Tokyo before the plan fell through. GTA: London remains the only title in the series set outside the United States.
Rockstar co-founder explains American identity
Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser previously addressed why the franchise stays in America. He said GTA needed
and
while being fundamentally tied to American culture.
Houser noted the game showed the nation
" which meant it
Other game franchises maintain similar geographic consistency. Todd Howard explained why Fallout continues its US setting, praising the series'
as essential to its character and confirming the franchise will
In related news, this week's GTA Online Christmas update brought seasonal snow and free items including a Season's Greetings Sweater, New Year Fireworks bodysuit, Snowball Launcher, Candy Cane melee weapon, and Firework Launcher.
Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar, revealed the cancelled international projects in an interview with GamesHub. A Tokyo-based game came closest to reality through a partnership with a Japanese studio before being scrapped.
Vermeij said.
Why American cities remained the focus
Rockstar decided maintaining US locations was safer for the franchise's massive financial success. The company viewed America as the center of Western culture, making its cities recognizable and comfortable for players worldwide, regardless of whether they had visited them.
Vermeij explained.
This global familiarity gives Rockstar a competitive advantage and strengthens the franchise's connection to its American identity. With billions at stake, the company chose not to risk experimenting with the proven formula.
The Tokyo project was the most developed of the international concepts. A Japanese studio was set to use Rockstar's code to create GTA: Tokyo before the plan fell through. GTA: London remains the only title in the series set outside the United States.
Rockstar co-founder explains American identity
Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser previously addressed why the franchise stays in America. He said GTA needed
while being fundamentally tied to American culture.
Houser noted the game showed the nation
" which meant it
Other game franchises maintain similar geographic consistency. Todd Howard explained why Fallout continues its US setting, praising the series'
In related news, this week's GTA Online Christmas update brought seasonal snow and free items including a Season's Greetings Sweater, New Year Fireworks bodysuit, Snowball Launcher, Candy Cane melee weapon, and Firework Launcher.
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